Calexico, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry arrested a 33-year-old male Mexican citizen after they found 27 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicle he was driving when he entered the port Saturday.

The seizure occurred at about 4:15 a.m. when a detector dog alerted to a tan 2000 Dodge Neon as the driver waited in line for inspection. Both vehicle and driver were escorted to the secondary inspection area for further examination.

An intensive inspection led officers to the discovery of 12 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed within the rear doors of the vehicle. The estimated street value of the narcotic is $243,000.

CBP officers turned custody of the driver, a resident of Imperial, California, over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who then transported him to the Imperial County Jail where he currently awaits arraignment.

CBP placed an immigration hold on the Mexican citizen to initiate removal from the United States at the conclusion of his criminal proceedings.